Khori Gaon Evictions : Faridabad Municipal Corporation Seeks 4 Weeks Additional Time To Comply With Supreme Court Directions

The Municipal Corporation Faridabad has approached the Supreme Court seeking an additional time of four weeks to comply with the Court's direction of completing the removal of unauthorised constructions on forest land in Khori Gaon in Faridabad, Haryana.

In pursuance of the Court's order directing the Municipal Commissioner to submit a further status report, it has filed the affidavit dated August 23, 2021 seeking additional time.

The Corporation has submitted that apart from the Khori area of Village Lakkarpur, it is continuously taking action against violations of forest land within the municipal limits by way of serving notice to the violators through Deputy Conservator of Forest, Faridabad.

It has further been submitted that the Corporation has carried out demolition of about 10 structures/ violations in the shape of farm houses on the Forest Department Official's directions by providing all necessary support.

"The Municipal Corporation has also planned a demolition drive for August 23 & 24 on the violations/illegal structures in the shape of Farm Houses within the municipal limits of District Faridabad on the land notified under Punjab Land Preservation Act, 1900 as per the preliminary list communicated by the Deputy Conservator of Forest, Faridabad," affidavit states.

In compliance with the Top Court's direction of creating an online correspondence with regards to any issue faced by the people removed from the land, the Corporation has submitted that a dedicated email ID "khoricomplaints@gmail.com" has been made and that the Corporation has also carried wide publicity of the email ID.

To ensure compliance of the direction for setting up a backup office in the Radha Soami complex for enabling the residents to raise their concern before the Corporation's Commissioner, the Corporation has stated that a nodal officer was appointed to resolve the grievances which are being handed over affirmatively on a daily basis.

Background

A Division Bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Dinesh Maheshwari on August 3 had asked the Commissioner to submit further status report before 25th August, 2021.

The Court had also asked the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation to consider setting up of an extended office at Radha Saomi complex where the locals have been provided temporary food, shelter and accommodation, to assuage the grievance of the locals and enable them to avail facilities made available in terms of Court's order.

The Supreme Court on July 23rd had granted four more weeks to the Municipal Corporation to complete the removal of unauthorised constructions on forest land in Khori Gaon in Faridabad, Haryana.

On 7th June 2021, the Supreme Court had directed the removal of all encroachments on forest land within 6 weeks. The Court passed the direction while dismissing a petition which sought a stay on the Corporation's move to demolish around 10,000 homes in the Khori Gaon region.

Case Title: Municipal Corporation Faridabad v Khori Gaon Residents Welfare Association